University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska 2012 Taxonomic revision of true morels (Morchella) in Canada and the United States Michael Kuo Eastern Illinois University Damon R. Dewsbury University of Toronto Kerry O'Donnell USDA-ARS M. Carol Carter Stephen A. Rehner USDA-ARS, stephen.rehner@ars.usda.gov See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub Kuo, Michael; Dewsbury, Damon R.; O'Donnell, Kerry; Carter, M. Carol; Rehner, Stephen A.; Moore, John David; Moncalvo, Jean- Marc; Canfield, Stephen A.; Stephenson, Steven L.; Methven, Andrew S.; and Volk, Thomas J., "Taxonomic revision of true morels (Morchella) in Canada and the United States" (2012). Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty. 1564. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub/1564 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications from USDA-ARS / UNL Faculty by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Authors Michael Kuo, Damon R. Dewsbury, Kerry O'Donnell, M. Carol Carter, Stephen A. Rehner, John David Moore, Jean-Marc Moncalvo, Stephen A. Canfield, Steven L. Stephenson, Andrew S. Methven, and Thomas J. Volk This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaarsfacpub/1564
Mycologia, 104(5), 2012, pp. 1159 1177. DOI: 10.3852/11-375 # 2012 by The Mycological Society of America, Lawrence, KS 66044-8897 Taxonomic revision of true morels (Morchella) in Canada and the United States Michael Kuo Department of English, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois 61920 Damon R. Dewsbury Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S2C6 Kerry O Donnell Bacterial Foodborne Pathogens and Mycology Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, Illinois 61604 M. Carol Carter 17070 SW Vendla Park Lane, Aloha, Oregon 97006 Stephen A. Rehner Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland 20705 John David Moore Department of English, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois 61920 Jean-Marc Moncalvo Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C6 Stephen A. Canfield Department of Foreign Languages, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois 61920 Steven L. Stephenson Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 Andrew S. Methven Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois 61920 Thomas J. Volk 1 Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601 Abstract: Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have revealed the existence of at least 50 species of Morchella worldwide and demonstrated a high degree of continental endemism within the genus. Here we describe 19 phylogenetic species of Morchella from North America, 14 of which are new (M. diminutiva, Submitted 12 Nov 2011; accepted for publication 3 Mar 2012. 1 Corresponding author. E-mail: tvolk @uwlax.edu M. virginiana, M. esculentoides, M. prava, M. cryptica, M. frustrata, M. populiphila, M. sextelata, M. septimelata, M. capitata, M. importuna, M. snyderi, M. brunnea and M. septentrionalis). Existing species names (M. rufobrunnea, M. tomentosa, M. punctipes and M. angusticeps) are applied to four phylogenetic species, and formal description of one species (M. sp. Mel-8 ) is deferred pending study of additional material. Methods for assessing morphological features in Morchella are delineated, and a key to the known phylogenetic species of Morchella in North America is provided. Type studies of M. crassistipa, M. hotsonii, M. angusticeps and M. punctipes are provided. Morchella crassistipa is designated nomen dubium. Key words: Ascospore, identification key, Morchellaceae, morels, morphology, North America, pits, taxonomy INTRODUCTION Morels (species of Morchella Dill. ex Pers.) are highly valued edible mushrooms in the northern hemisphere, especially in Europe and North America (Weber 1995, Kuo 2005), but we still lack an understanding of many aspects of their biology, taxonomy and distribution. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of 590 Morchella collections (O Donnell et al. 2011) revealed at least 41 phylogenetic species worldwide, 19 of which appeared to be endemic to North America. Results additionally indicated a high degree of continental endemism for the genus, with only two of the 41 species occurring naturally in both Europe and Asia and none occurring naturally in both North America and Eurasia (although a few North American species appear to have been introduced into Turkey; see Taşkın et al. 2010, 2012). Because extensive sampling has indicated strict North American endemism, existing European and Asian species names (including among others the well known names M. esculenta [L] Pers., M. elata Fr., M. semilibera DC and M. conica Pers.) could not be applied to North American morels. We studied the type collections of the six species originally described from North America (M. tomentosa M. Kuo, M. rufobrunnea Guzmán & F. Tapia, M. angusticeps Peck, M. punctipes Peck, M. hotsonii Snyder, M. crassistipa Snyder) to investigate the contemporary applicability of these species names (see SUPPLEMENTARY MATERI- ALS). We also studied morphological, ecological and distributional data from 244 North American collections identified phylogenetically to assess whether 1159
1160 MYCOLOGIA these species can be defined on the basis of morphology, ecology and distribution. Herein, five species within the Esculenta Clade (yellow morels) and nine species within the Elata Clade (black morels) from North America are formally described and M. angusticeps is epitypified (FIG. 1). MATERIALS AND METHODS Collections were accessioned into the Morel Data Collection Project (MDCP) database (www.mushroomexpert.com/ mdcp/mdcprecords.pl), together with collectors notes and photographs. Phylogenetic identification of 244 collections was accomplished following the methods for DNA isolation, PCR amplification and sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis described in O Donnell et al. (2011). Macromorphology of specimens was determined through observation of fresh specimens, dried specimens, collectors notes and photographs of material in the fresh state. (See SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS for details on specific features.) For micromorphological study horizontal scalp sections taken from the hymenia and sterile ridges were squashmounted in 2% KOH. Measurements of asci, paraphyses and elements on sterile ridges were made at 4003 magnification; ascospore measurements were made at 10003. At least 10 mature ascospores were measured for each specimen. Collections were deposited in the Mycology Collection of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago (F) using MDCP accession numbers or were studied and deposited in the Fungarium at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto (TRTC). Others were returned to lending herbaria. DNA sequence data from type specimens described in this study were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers JQ670119 JQ670132. RESULTS Study of 244 North American collections identified phylogenetically (SUPPLEMENTARY TABLE I) revealed five species within the Morchella esculenta Clade as defined by O Donnell et al. (2011) and nine species within the Morchella elata Clade (FIG. 1). Among these, a few phylogenetic species (Morchella rufobrunnea, M. tomentosa, M. importuna, M. prava, M. frustrata) could be differentiated on the basis of morphological characters, and several others (M. punctipes, M. populiphila, M. brunnea, M. capitata, M. snyderi) could be distinguished when geographic range and/or ecological factors are combined with morphological characters. However, several phylogenetic species (including the pair M. sextelata and M. septimelata and the pair M. esculentoides and M. cryptica) remain morphologically and ecologically cryptic based on present data. Type studies (see SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS) supported applying four of the six previous North American species names (M. angusticeps, M. punctipes, M. rufobrunnea, M. tomentosa) to phylogenetic species. However, two previous North American names were problematic: (i) the type collection of M. crassistipa was determined to be mixed, obliging us to designate this name as nomen dubium; and (ii) preliminary DNA sequence data on M. hotsonii suggested that it might represent a novel phylogenetic species, apparently undocumented since the 1935 type collection. As a result of our analyses 14 new species are described below. Description of another new species was deferred pending additional material for study. In addition, we identified a suite of morphological characters for study of Morchella specimens (see SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS). TAXONOMY Morchella rufobrunnea Clade The Morchella rufobrunnea Clade (O Donnell et al. 2011) is basal to the remaining Morchella lineage and consists of a single species. Morphologically M. rufobrunnea resembles the yellow morels as they have been defined traditionally (Kuo 2005) and most members of the Morchella esculenta Clade. Morchella rufobrunnea Guzmán & F. Tapia, Mycologia 90:706. 1998. FIG. 2 The original description of Morchella rufobrunnea appeared in Guzmán and Tapia (1998). (For an augmented description based on material studied by the authors see SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS.) Comments. Morchella rufobrunnea is easily distinguished on the basis of its abruptly conical young cap with pale ridges and nearly black pits, and its rufescence (Kuo 2008). It appears in woodchips and landscaping settings on the West Coast from California to Seattle. (For a discussion of species names frequently misapplied to M. rufobrunnea see Kuo 2008.) Molecular phylogenetic analysis of F 03110601 and several other commercially produced morels (O Donnell unpubl data) confirms M. rufobrunnea as the morel cultivated commercially (US Patent numbers 4594809, 4757640). Morchella esculenta Clade The Morchella esculenta Clade (O Donnell et al. 2011) is sister to the M. elata Clade and corresponds fairly well with the traditional morphological concept of yellow morels (Kuo 2005), amended to exclude M. rufobrunnea, which has pale ridges like yellow morels but is phylogenetically distinct, and to exclude M. frustrata and M. snyderi, which have the colors usually associated with yellow morels but are nested within the M. elata Clade. The latter two species, however, possess pits that primarily are elongated vertically and feature a notable sinus where the hymenophore attaches to the stipe; most members of the M. esculenta Clade have less vertically arranged pits and feature hymenophores that are typically adnate.
KUO ET AL.: REVISION OF MORCHELLA TAXONOMY 1161 Morchella diminutiva M. Kuo, Dewsbury, Moncalvo & S.L. Stephenson, sp. nov. FIG. 3 MycoBank MB 563948 Ascomata 35 94 mm alta; capitulum conicum; costae pallidae, colocatae recte; hymenium sufflavum colore subcaesio; biotopium in silva frondosa in orienti America septentrionalis, praesertim in alveis ubi Fraxinus americana L aut Liriodendron tulipifera L praesens est; sporae 20 24 3 11 16 mm. Holotypus: Biotopium in silva frondosa; USA, in Illinoisense, ad Coles County; M. Kuo col.; specimen typicum in herbarium F (05030404) conservatum. Etymology. The epithet refers to the size of the ascomata. Ascomata 35 94 mm high. Hymenophore 20 41 mm high; 10 27 mm wide at the widest point; usually conical to subconical, occasionally ovoid or subcylindrical with a subacute apex; pitted and ridged, with 8 16 primary vertical ridges and occasional secondary vertical ridges, with scattered to frequent, sunken, transecting horizontal ridges; adnate at the point of attachment, or when young attached to stipe with a slight sinus. Ridges glabrous; yellowish to nearly whitish when young, becoming pale brownish yellow or pale yellowish brown with maturity; widely rounded to nearly flat when young, but with age often becoming sharpened or eroded. Pits primarily vertically elongated; glabrous; medium to dark gray or grayish brown when young, becoming pale brownish yellow or pale yellowish tan. Stipe 10 68 mm high; 3 18 mm wide; more or less equal, or sometimes basally subclavate; finely mealy with whitish granules or nearly glabrous; whitish. Context whitish; about 1 mm thick in the hollow hymenophore; in the stipe sometimes slightly chambered near the base. Sterile inner surface whitish and pubescent. Ascospores (18 )20 24( 26) 3 (10 )11 16( 18) mm; elliptical; smooth; contents homogeneous; orangish yellow in deposit. Asci 175 325 3 12.5 25 mm; eight-spored; cylindrical; hyaline. Paraphyses 125 250 3 7.5 20 mm; cylindrical; apices generally merely rounded but occasionally subfusiform, subcapitate, or irregular; septate; brown to brownish in KOH (2%) on immature ascomata, becoming hyaline with maturity. Elements on sterile ridges 75 175 3 (7.5 )10 30 mm; hyaline to brownish or brown in KOH (2%); septate; terminal cell subfusiform by maturity but sometimes merely cylindrical, with a rounded or subcapitate apex. Ecology. Appearing in eastern North American hardwood forests, especially in association with Fraxinus americana L and Liriodendron tulipifera L but also found under Carya spp. and other hardwoods; widely distributed east of the Rocky Mountains, although the northern limits of its range are undetermined; April and May. Specimens examined (SUPPLE- MENTARY TABLE I) were collected in Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Comments. Morchella diminutiva corresponds to phylogenetic species Mes-2 in O Donnell et al. (2011). The species is characterized by its small average size; its conical to subconical hymenophore, which features vertically elongated pits and ridges, and the elements on its sterile ridges, which usually are subfusiform. It is widely distributed and common east of the Great Plains under ash, tulip trees and other hardwoods. Larger specimens are similar to smaller specimens of M. virginiana, which has a limited southeastern range and scattered elements on sterile ridges that are variably shaped. Morchella esculentoides, along with M. cryptica and M. prava, can be separated from M. diminutiva on the basis of their larger size, less conical hymenophores, and their pits and ridges, which are not primarily vertically elongated. Morchella diminutiva corresponds to type 1 of the North American Deliciosas in Kuo (2005) and, in part, to M. deliciosa in Weber (1995). Morchella virginiana O Donnell & S.A. Rehner, sp. nov. FIG. 4 MycoBank MB 563949 Ascomata 50 125 mm alta; capitulum late conicum; costae pallidae; hymenium sufflavum colore subcaesio; biotopium in silva frondosa in America vulturna septentrionalis, praesertim in alveis ubi Liriodendron tulipifera L. praesens est; sporae 18 25 3 10 16 mm Holotypus: Biotopium in alveo se conjungens cum Liriodendron tulipifera L; USA, in Virginiaense, ad Fairfax County; S. Rehner col.; specimen typicum in Herb. BPI (880503) conservatum. Etymology. The epithet refers to the location of the holotype collection. Ascomata 50 125 mm high. Hymenophore 30 70 mm high; 22 35 mm wide at the widest point; usually ovoid with a bluntly conic to subconic apex, but occasionally subcylindrical with a rounded apex; pitted and ridged, with 12 16 primary vertical ridges and scattered secondary vertical ridges, with scattered, sunken, transecting horizontal ridges; adnate at the point of attachment. Ridges finely tomentose to glabrous; pale yellowish when young, becoming pale brownish yellow or yellowish brown with maturity; flattened when young but often becoming sharpened or eroded in age. Pits primarily elongated vertically; glabrous or finely tomentose; grayish brown when young, becoming pale brownish yellow or pale yellowish tan but often retaining grayish hues. Stipe 25 55 mm high; 10 20 mm wide; more or less equal, or basally subclavate; finely mealy with whitish granules or nearly glabrous; whitish to pale yellowish. Context whitish; about 1 mm thick in the
1162 MYCOLOGIA FIG. 1. One of two equally parsimonious phylograms 1674 steps long depicting phylogenetic relationships among 19 North American and seven European species of Morchella inferred from a five-gene dataset containing 600 parsimony informative characters (PIC). Sequences of M. rufobrunnea were used to root the phylogram based on more inclusive analyses (O Donnell et al. 2011). The 17 species within the Elata Clade (black morels) and eight species within the Esculenta Clade (yellow morels) are identified respectively by Mel and Mes followed by a unique Arabic number. Highlight is used to identify nine species
KUO ET AL.: REVISION OF MORCHELLA TAXONOMY 1163 hollow hymenophore; in the stipe sometimes slightly chambered near the base. Sterile inner surface whitish and pubescent. Ascospores 18 25( 28) 3 10 16 mm; elliptical; smooth; contents homogeneous. Asci 200 325 3 15 25 mm; eight-spored; cylindrical; hyaline. Paraphyses 125 200 3 5 15 mm; cylindrical; apices generally merely rounded but occasionally subclavate, subcapitate or subfusiform; septate; hyaline to brownish in KOH (2%). Elements on sterile ridges scattered and infrequent (often difficult to locate or distinguish from paraphyses), 100 175 3 10 30 mm; hyaline to brownish or brown in KOH (2%); septate; terminal cell widely cylindrical, with a rounded, subcapitate, subclavate or subfusiform apex. Ecology. Appearing in southeastern hardwood forests, especially in association with L. tulipifera in river bottoms, coastal plains and drainage areas, often in sandy soil; North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi and Virginia; April and May. Specimens examined (SUPPLEMENTARY TABLE I) were collected in Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Comments. Morchella virginiana corresponds to phylogenetic species Mes-3 in O Donnell et al. (2011). Based on current data it can be characterized as intermediate in stature between M. diminutiva and M. esculentoides; its dimensions and proportions approximate large specimens of M. diminutiva and small specimens of M. esculentoides. It is usually less sharply conical than M. diminutiva, however, and its stipe is proportionally longer than that of M. esculentoides, from which it also differs in the primarily vertical (rather than more or less random) orientation of the pits. While M. diminutiva is found in a variety of eastern hardwood habitats in association with Fraxinus spp., L. tulipifera and other hardwoods, M. virginiana apparently is limited to association with L. tulipifera in riparian and upland ecosystems from Virginia to northern Mississippi (O Donnell et al. 2011). Elements on sterile ridges in M. virginiana specimens examined were scattered and often difficult to isolate; when present they were variably shaped, cylindrical to subcapitate, subcylindrical or subfusiform. Elements on sterile ridges of M. diminutiva, by contrast, were easily demonstrated and primarily widely fusiform. Morchella virginiana corresponds with type 2 of the North American Deliciosas in Kuo (2005). Morchella esculentoides M. Kuo, Dewsbury, Moncalvo & S.L. Stephenson, sp. nov. FIG. 5,SUPPLEMENTARY FIG. 1 MycoBank MB 563950 Ascomata 36 220( 415) mm alta; capitulum ovoideum cum apice late conico aut convexo; costae pallidae; hymenium sufflavum aetate; biotopium in silva; sporae 18 22 3 11 13 mm. Holotypus: Biotopium in silva frondosa; USA, in Oregonense, ad Linn County; N. S. Weber 7114 col.; specimen typicum in Herb. OSC (138364 138367) conservatum. Etymology. The epithet refers to similarity with the iconic European species M. esculenta L. Ascomata 36 220( 415) mm high. Hymenophore 23 110( 220) mm high; 15 42( 126) mm wide at the widest point; usually ovoid with a bluntly conical or convex apex but occasionally subcylindrical with a convex apex or subglobose to pyriform; pitted and ridged, with approximately 12 30 vertical ridges and numerous horizontal and oblique ridges, along with scattered, sunken, transecting ridges; adnate at the point of attachment. Ridges glabrous or nearly so; white to pale yellowish when young, becoming pale brownish yellow or remaining whitish with maturity; bluntly rounded or nearly flattened when young, usually becoming sharpened or eroded in age. Pits usually more or less vertically elongated but not strictly so and not infrequently subglobose to irregular in outline; glabrous or finely tomentose; grayish brown to dark brown or nearly black when young, becoming pale brownish yellow. Stipe 20 120( 240) mm high; 16 92( 140) mm wide; usually basally clavate to subclavate; glabrous or finely mealy with scattered whitish to yellowish granules; whitish to pale yellowish or brownish. Context whitish; 1 3 mm thick in the hollow hymenophore; in the stipe often becoming thickened and chambered near the base with maturity. Sterile inner surface whitish and pubescent. Ascospores (17 )18 22( 24) 3 11 13( 15) mm; elliptical; smooth; contents homogeneous. Asci 225 325 3 15 25 mm; eight-spored; cylindrical; hyaline. Paraphyses 75 180 3 5 15 mm; cylindrical; apices generally merely rounded but occasionally subclavate to clavate or subfusiform; septate; hyaline to ochraceous or faintly brownish in KOH (2%). Elements on sterile ridges 75 160 3 10 27.5( 37.5) mm; hyaline to ochraceous in KOH (2%); septate; terminal cell subclavate to clavate, or subfusiform to widely cylindrical with a rounded or subcapitate apex. Ecology. Widely distributed and common; often found under living and dead hardwoods (especially living F. americana and dead or dying Ulmus americana L) but also found in apparent association with Populus r within the Elata Clade and five species within the Esculenta Clade that are formally described herein. In addition M. angusticeps (Mel-15) and M. punctipes (Mel-4) are epitypified. Numbers above internodes represent bootstrap values $ 65%. CI 5 consistency index, RI 5 retention index.
1164 MYCOLOGIA FIGS. 2 10. Morchella species. 2. M. rufobrunnea F 03080501. 3. M. diminutiva HOLOTYPE F 05030404, Mes-2. 4. M. virginiana HOLOTYPE BPI 880503, Mes-3. 5. M. esculentoides F 04250405, Mes-4. 6. M. prava HOLOTYPE F 05100602, Mes-7. 7. M cryptica HOLOTYPE F 04220401, Mes-11. 8. M. tomentosa HOLOTYPE F 06150405. 9. M. frustrata UC 1860809, Mel-2. 10. M. punctipes F 04240304, Mel-4. Bars 5 5 cm. Mel and Mes numbers refer to the phylogenetic species reported in O Donnell et al. (2011).
KUO ET AL.: REVISION OF MORCHELLA TAXONOMY 1165 deltoides Bartr., P. balsamifera L, P. grandidentata Michx., L. tulipifera, Platanus occidentalis L and Quercus spp. in a variety of habitats (from riparian cottonwood-sycamore lowlands to oak-hickory forests, mixed woods and northern hardwood forests); also appearing in association with Malus spp. in old orchards and occasionally in association with conifers (especially Pinus strobus L but also with P. resinosa Ait., Abies balsamea [L] Mill. and Picea abies [L] Karst.); rarely found in areas with no trees present; widely distributed and common east of the Rocky Mountains from Kansas to Ontario and the northeastern United States, south to Texas, Arkansas and South Carolina; in western North America occurring under hardwoods in river bottoms or in urban settings in association with apple trees or ornamental ash plantings; appearing in spring (March June, depending on latitude and altitude). Specimens examined (SUPPLEMENTARY TABLE I) were collected in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Comments. Morchella esculentoides is the most widely distributed member of the genus in North America and corresponds to phylogenetic species Mes-4 in O Donnell et al. (2011). Mature ascomata that have developed normally can be distinguished morphologically from all other North American species of Morchella, except M. cryptica, by its medium to large ascomata, together with the non-rufescent, pale ridges, the generally rounded apex of the hymenophore, and the pits, which are not strictly vertical in arrangement but are not as asymmetrical and irregular as those of M. prava (however, occasional aberrant specimens of M. esculentoides, such as F 04150501, can appear similar to M. prava and must be identified with molecular analysis). In the Great Lakes region, where the ranges of M. cryptica and M. esculentoides overlap, the two species cannot be separated reliably based on current data without molecular analysis. (See the comments under M. cryptica for details.) In western regions M. esculentoides has no close look-alikes, although M. rufobrunnea, which has rufescent ridges, and M. frustrata, which has a conical hymenophore featuring vertically arranged pits, have similarly colored hymenophores. Morchella esculentoides corresponds (in part) to M. esculenta in Weber (1995) and to the Classic North American Yellow Morel in Kuo (2005). Morchella prava Dewsbury, Moncalvo, J.D. Moore & M. Kuo, sp. nov. FIG. 6 MycoBank MB 563951 Ascomata 50 100 mm alta; capitulum ovoideum cum apice subconico; costae pallidae; hymenium pravium, canae vel atrae, pallescens aetate; biotopium in silva; sporae 17 21 3 10 12 mm. Holotypus: Biotopium in humo harenoso sub Pinus strobus L et Acer saccharum Marsh.; USA, in Michiganense, ad Emmet County; M. Kuo & J.D. Moore col.; specimen typicum in Herb. F (05100602) conservatum. Etymology. The epithet means crooked, irregular or deformed and reflects the contorted aspect of the hymenophore. Ascomata 50 100 mm high. Hymenophore 30 60 mm high; 20 50 mm wide at the widest point; irregularly shaped but often more or less ovoid with a slightly narrowed or subconic apex; pitted and ridged; with 12 18 vertical ridges intersecting a line across the widest portion but with numerous horizontal and oblique ridges as well, along with scattered, sunken, transecting ridges; adnate at the point of attachment or occasionally attached with an inconsistent, poorly defined sinus. Ridges glabrous or very finely tomentose; thick; whitish to pale yellowish or pale tan when young, becoming pale brownish yellow with maturity and eventually darkening to yellowish brown or reddish brown in places; flattened or widely rounded when young but with age sometimes becoming sharpened or eroded. Pits asymmetrical and irregular in outline and size; glabrous or finely tomentose; gray to dark gray, gray-brown or nearly black when young and often remaining dark for a long time before becoming pale brownish yellow or pale yellowish tan with maturity. Stipe 25 40 mm high; 10 30 mm wide; more or less equal above a subclavate to clavate base; glabrous or nearly so; whitish to pale yellowish, often discoloring reddish brown; usually developing indistinct ridges and folds near the base. Context whitish; about 1 2 mm thick in the hollow hymenophore; usually chambered or layered near the base. Sterile inner surface whitish and pubescent. Ascospores (16 )17 21( 24) 3 (8 )10 12( 13) mm; ellipsoid to slightly subfusiform; smooth; contents homogeneous. Asci 200 300 3 15 25 mm; eight-spored; cylindrical; hyaline. Paraphyses 100 175 3 5 12.5 mm; cylindrical; apices generally merely rounded or subclavate but occasionally clavate or subfusiform; septate; hyaline to brownish or brown in KOH (2%). Elements on sterile ridges scattered and infrequent (often difficult to locate or distinguish from paraphyses); 75 125 3 7.5 25( 37.5) mm; hyaline to ochraceous, brownish, or brown in KOH (2%); septate; terminal cell widely cylindrical with a rounded apex, subclavate, clavate, subcapitate, capitate or widely subfusiform. Ecology. The ecology of Morchella prava collections studied was not consistent. Among the seven collections studied, few if any common ecological denominators were apparent. Collections were made approximately 43 50uN across North America, in April, May and early June. (See SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS for further
1166 MYCOLOGIA ecological data from the collections studied.) Specimens examined (SUPPLEMENTARY TABLE I) were collected in Michigan, Montana, Ontario, Saskatchewan and South Dakota. Comments. Morchella prava corresponds to phylogenetic species Mes-7 in O Donnell et al. (2011). The species usually can be identified on the basis of its esculenta-like stature and its contorted, asymmetrical and irregular pits and ridges. The pits are highly irregular in outline and size, and the thick, bluntly rounded ridges are less likely to become eroded and sharpened with maturity than the ridges in M. esculentoides and M. cryptica. The hymenophore of M. prava often appears like a contorted or somewhat deformed version of the M. esculentoides hymenophore. Significant differences in microscopic features between M. prava, M. esculentoides and M. cryptica were not observed, although elements on sterile ridges in the M. prava specimens studied generally were sparsely scattered or nearly absent, in contrast to the easily located elements of the other two species. Morchella prava undoubtedly has been misidentified as M. esculenta and M. deliciosa in many North American treatments, and it probably corresponds to what has been labeled M. vulgaris in Québec (Lincoff 1981). It appeared in Kuo (2005) as the Classic North American Morel III. Morchella cryptica M. Kuo & J.D. Moore, sp. nov. FIG. 7 MycoBank MB 563952 Ascomata 60 200 mm alta; capitulum ovoideum cum apice late conico aut convexo; costae pallidae; hymenium sufflavum aetate; biotopium in silva frondosa in meditulio occidente Americae septentrionalis, alveis ubi Fraxinus americana L praesens est; sporae 18 23 3 10 13 mm. Holotypus: Biotopium in silva frondosa cum Fraxinus americana L et Acer spp. praesentes; USA, in Illinoisense, ad Coles County; M. Kuo col.; specimen typicum in Herb. F (04220401) conservatum. Etymology. The epithet refers to the cryptic morphology of the species. Ascomata 60 200 mm high. Hymenophore 40 75 mm high; 32 62 mm wide at the widest point; usually ovoid with a convex, bluntly conical, or conical apex; pitted and ridged; with 10 18 vertical ridges intersecting a line across the widest portion but with numerous horizontal and oblique ridges as well, along with scattered, sunken, transecting ridges; adnate at the point of attachment. Ridges glabrous or nearly so; pale yellowish when young, usually remaining pale yellowish with maturity but occasionally darkening somewhat to brownish yellow; flattened when young, becoming sharpened or eroded in age. Pits often vertically elongated but not strictly so and occasionally subglobose to irregular in outline; glabrous; grayish yellow to gray or pale grayish brown when young, becoming pale yellowish or pale brownish yellow (usually concolorous with the ridges at maturity). Stipe 50 130 mm high; 14 60 mm wide; usually basally subclavate to clavate when mature but occasionally more or less equal throughout development; sometimes developing wide, shallow ridges; finely mealy with whitish granules or nearly glabrous; whitish. Context whitish; about 1 2 mm thick in the hollow hymenophore; often becoming thickened and chambered near the base. Sterile inner surface whitish and pubescent. Ascospores 18 23 3 10 13( 15) mm. ellipsoid; smooth; contents homogeneous. Asci 175 300 3 15 25 mm; eight-spored; cylindrical; hyaline. Paraphyses 100 160 3 5 12.5( 15) mm; cylindrical; apices usually rounded or subclavate but occasionally clavate or widely subfusiform; septate; hyaline to brownish in KOH (2%). Elements on sterile ridges scattered (occasionally difficult to locate or distinguish from paraphyses); 75 125( 175) 3 10 30 mm; hyaline in KOH (2%); septate; terminal cell widely cylindrical with a rounded apex, subcapitate, capitate, subclavate, clavate or widely subfusiform. Ecology. Appearing in Midwestern hardwood forests, especially in apparent association with F. americana but also reported under L. tulipifera and Acer spp.; fairly common in the Great Lakes region from Ontario to central Illinois and western Pennsylvania; April, May and June. Specimens examined (SUPPLE- MENTARY TABLE I) were collected in Illinois, Michigan, Ontario and Pennsylvania. Comments. Morchella cryptica corresponds to phylogenetic species Mes-11 in O Donnell et al. (2011). Based on current data the species cannot be reliably separated from M. esculentoides on the basis of morphological characters, although the hymenophore of M. cryptica is frequently somewhat paler and its ridges are usually more flattened. Microscopic features studied for the two species are virtually identical. M. cryptica is not found as frequently as M. esculentoides; however, both species were collected under hardwoods, often in apparent association with Fraxinus spp. Further collections of M. cryptica might lead to a reliable means of separating these phylogenetic species. It undoubtedly has been labeled M. esculenta in North American treatments that cover the Great Lakes region (e.g. Weber 1995). It corresponds with the Classic North American Yellow Morel II in Kuo (2005). Morchella Elata Clade The Morchella elata Clade (O Donnell et al. 2011) is sister to the M. esculenta Clade and corresponds with the traditional morphological concept of black morels (Kuo 2005) amended to include M. semilibera-like species and three species (M. tomentosa, M.
KUO ET AL.: REVISION OF MORCHELLA TAXONOMY 1167 frustrata, M. snyderi) that can manifest pale, esculentalike coloration of the hymenophore. The North American species in the M. elata Clade have pits that primarily are elongated vertically at maturity and generally feature a notable sinus where the hymenophore attaches to the stipe. Morchella tomentosa M. Kuo, Mycotaxon 105:441. 2008. FIG. 8,SUPPLEMENTARY FIG. 2 The original description of Morchella tomentosa appeared in Kuo 2008. (For an augmented description based on material studied by the authors see SUPPLE- MENTARY MATERIALS.) Comments. Morchella tomentosa is a postfire morel featuring densely tomentose surfaces. Because of the dark, young ascomata it frequently has been called the gray morel by western commercial collectors. With prolonged exposure to sunlight its colors often fade dramatically, approximating those typical of M. esculentoides-like morels; these specimens, however, still feature hairs that are brown in KOH (2%) and thus can be identified microscopically. Stefani et al. (2010) described an underground, root-like structure beneath three Alaskan ascomata of M. tomentosa. It is unclear whether this structure, which they termed a radiscisclerotium, is consistently attached to M. tomentosa ascocarps; it was not documented by any of the collectors of the specimens we examined, and it has not been reported by mycologists investigating the species (McFarlane et al. 2005, Pilz et al. 2007) or by commercial collectors for whom M. tomentosa is a popular species. The three radiscisclerotia documented by Stephani et al. (2010) extended to about 80 mm into the substrate, branching several times; individual branches of the structures were 5 15 mm thick. Morchella tomentosa has been treated as the gray morel (Pilz et al. 2004, 2007; McFarlane et al. 2005) and as the Black Foot Morel (Kuo 2005). Morchella frustrata M. Kuo, sp. nov. FIG. 9 MycoBank MB 563953 Ascomata 60 90 mm alta; capitulum conicum; costae minime spadice, non nigrescens; hymenium levis, minime spadix; biotopium in silvis multigeneri; sporae 20 29 3 14 19 mm. Holotypus: Biotopium in silvis coniferibus; USA, in Californiaense, ad Placer County; T. Bruns 3643 col.; specimen typicum in Herb. UC (1860811) conservatum. Etymology. The epithet reflects the frustrating combination of black and yellow morel features that characterize the species. Ascomata 60 90 mm high. Hymenophore 40 60 mm high; 25 40 mm wide at the widest point; conical; pitted and ridged; with 16 22 primary vertical ridges and few shorter, secondary vertical ridges, with frequent, sunken, transecting horizontal ridges; attached to stipe with a sinus about 2 4 mm deep and 2 4 mm wide. Ridges glabrous; pale yellowish to nearly whitish when young, becoming pale tan with maturity; slightly flattened when young but often becoming sharpened or eroded with age. Pits primarily elongated vertically; glabrous; dull grayish to pale yellowish or nearly whitish when young, becoming pale tan to pale pinkish tan. Stipe 20 40 mm high; 10 25 mm wide; more or less equal or sometimes basally subclavate; glabrous or finely mealy with whitish granules; whitish. Context whitish; 1 2 mm thick in the hollow hymenophore; in the stipe sometimes slightly chambered near the base. Sterile inner surface whitish and pubescent. Ascospores 20 29 3 14 19 mm; elliptical; smooth; contents homogeneous. Asci 225 300 3 15 25 mm; eight-spored; cylindrical; hyaline in KOH (2%). Paraphyses 100 225 3 10 25 mm; cylindrical; apices rounded to subclavate or infrequently subfusoid; septate; hyaline to brownish in KOH (2%). Elements on sterile ridges 100 175 3 12.5 20 mm; septate; terminal cell clavate or subclavate; hyaline or with brownish contents in KOH (2%). Ecology. Appearing at various altitudes in mixed forests dominated by various trees, including Arbutus menziesii Pursh, Quercus spp., Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, Pinus ponderosa Laws., Pinus lambertiana Dougl. and Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl.; California and Oregon; April. Specimens examined (SUPPLEMENTARY TABLE I) were collected in California and Oregon. Comments. Morchella frustrata corresponds to phylogenetic species Mel-2 in O Donnell et al. (2011). The species is one of a few North American members of the M. elata Clade with pale colors that can approximate the ones traditionally associated with members of the M. esculenta Clade. However, despite its colors M. frustrata manifests the stature typical of black morels; its hymenophore is conical, its pits are vertically oriented and the hymenophore is attached to the stipe with a notable sinus. Unlike M. snyderi, which also can feature pale, M. esculenta-like colors, M. frustrata lacks a conspicuously lacunose stipe, its ridges eventually darken in old age or upon drying and its pits are glabrous rather than finely tomentose. Ascospores of M. frustrata examined for the present work were substantially smaller than those examined for M. snyderi; analysis of further collections might determine whether the difference in ascospore sizes is consistent between the species. Morchella frustrata is likely the same as the morel informally designated the mountain blond morel (Pilz et al. 2004, 2007). Morchella punctipes Peck, Bull. Torrey Bot. Cl. 30:99. 1903. FIG. 10 Holotypus. USA, Michigan, Agricultural College, Iunius, B. O. Longyear col.; in herbarium NYS (NYSF2511) conservatum.
1168 MYCOLOGIA Epitypus (hic designatus). Biotopium sub Liriodendron tulipifera L et Fraxinus americana L; USA, in Virginiaense, ad Rappahannock County; T. Geho col.; specimen epitypicum in herbarium F (05020502) conservatum. Etymology. Peck s epithet refers to the surface of the stipe, which often is punctated with mealy granules that can darken with maturity; he used this feature to distinguish M. punctipes from what we now know is the strictly European M. semilibera, which according to his concept, had a glabrous stipe. Ascomata 25 180 mm high. Hymenophore 20 45 mm high; 20 45 mm wide at the widest point; broadly to narrowly conical or occasionally nearly convex; pitted and ridged; with 14 26 primary vertical ridges and infrequent shorter, secondary vertical ridges and transecting horizontal ridges; attached in a skirt-like manner to the stipe, roughly halfway from the apex, with a sinus 8 20 mm deep. Ridges glabrous; pale yellow to dull yellowish brown when young; darkening to brown, dark brown, or black with maturity; when young up to 1 mm wide, and flat with sharp edges, but with age often rounded, sharp or eroded. Pits vertically elongated; glabrous; whitish to pale yellowish when immature, becoming brownish to yellowish brown at maturity. Stipe 15 150 mm high; 8 45 mm wide; more or less equal, or tapered to apex; often hidden by the hymenophore when young, but lengthening dramatically by maturity; often developing shallow longitudinal furrows; fragile; in warm, wet conditions sometimes becoming inflated, especially near the base; white to whitish or watery brownish; occasionally nearly glabrous but more commonly mealy with whitish granules that sometimes darken to brownish or brown. Context whitish to watery tan; 1 2 mm thick in the hollow hymenophore; in the stipe sometimes chambered or layered near the base. Sterile inner surface whitish to brownish; mealy; sometimes grooved. Ascospores elliptical; smooth; contents homogeneous; 20 27 3 (10 )14 18 mm; whitish to bright yellowish orange in deposit. Asci eight-spored; 175 350 3 15 25 mm; cylindrical; hyaline. Paraphyses cylindrical with rounded, subcapitate, clavate, mucronate or irregularly inflated apices; septate; hyaline in KOH (2%); 120 275 3 10 22 mm. Elements on sterile ridges 50 100 3 10 25 mm; septate; tightly packed in an even layer; brownish in KOH (2%); terminal cell broadly clavate to sub-rectangular with a flattened to broadly rounded or submucronate apex. Ecology. Appearing in eastern North American hardwood forests, especially those containing F. americana, L. tulipifera and U. americana; widely distributed east of the Rocky Mountains (although Weber and Smith 1985 reported that it is to be expected primarily in the northern and montane parts of the South ); from late March in southern areas to late May in northern areas. Specimens examined (SUPPLEMENTARY TABLE I) were collected in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Comments. Morchella punctipes corresponds to phylogenetic species Mel-4 in O Donnell et al. (2011). Most North American treatments (e.g. Overholts 1934, Weber 1995) regard the present species as Morchella semilibera DC, distinct from other morels on the basis of its half-free cap attachment. However, results from O Donnell et al. (2011) support two semiliberalike morels in North America (species Mel-4 and species Mel-5), morphologically similar but clearly separated on the basis of their range and ecology. Morchella populiphila (phylogenetic species Mel-5 in O Donnell et al. 2011) is a western species associated with Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray; the eastern species (phylogenetic species Mel-4 in O Donnell et al. 2011) is widely distributed in hardwood forests east of the Rocky Mountains. Neither is the same as the European species (phylogenetic species Mel-3 in O Donnell et al. 2011), M. semilibera. Although we were unable to obtain informative phylogenetic results from the holotype of M. punctipes Peck, Peck s description (1903) and the morphology of the holotype specimens (see M. punctipes, type studies) match the morphology of the specimens examined for the present work, which are conspecific with phylogenetic species Mel-4 in O Donnell et al. (2011). Morchella populiphila M. Kuo, M.C. Carter & J.D. Moore, sp. nov. FIG. 11 MycoBank MB 563954 Ascomata 40 150 mm alta; capitulum conicum, remisse adherum stipiti; costae perpendicules, atrae; hymenium fulvum; biotopium in alveis occidentis Americae septentrionalis sub Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray; sporae 20 25 3 12 16 mm. Holotypus: Biotopium in alveo sub Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray; USA, in Oregonense, ad Jackson County; N. Selbicky col.; specimen typicum in Herb. F (03240401) conservatum. Etymology. The epithet refers to the association with Populus trichocarpa. Ascomata 40 150 mm high. Hymenophore 20 50 mm high; 20 50 mm wide at the widest point; broadly to narrowly conical; pitted and ridged, with 12 20 primary vertical ridges and infrequent shorter, secondary vertical ridges and transecting horizontal ridges, attached in a skirt-like manner to the stipe, roughly halfway from the apex, with a sinus 10 25 mm deep. Ridges glabrous; yellowish brown to honey brown when young, darkening to brown, dark brown or black with maturity; when young up to 1 mm wide and flat with sharp edges but often rounded, sharp or eroded in age. Pits vertically elongated; glabrous;
KUO ET AL.: REVISION OF MORCHELLA TAXONOMY 1169 FIGS. 11 19. Morchella species. 11. M. populiphila HOLOTYPE F 03240401, Mel-5. 12. M. sextelata HOLOTYPE F 07130403, Mel-6. 13. M. septimelata HOLOTYPE F 06150404, Mel-7. 14. M. capitata HOLOTYPE F 08070406, Mel-9. 15. M. importuna HOLOTYPE F 04130401, Mel-10. 16. M. snyderi F 05140401, Mel-12. 17. M. angusticeps EPITYPE F 04090601, Mel-15. 18. M. brunnea F 04100401, Mel-22. 19. M. septentrionalis F 05110306, Mel-24. Bars 5 5 cm. Mel numbers refer to the phylogenetic species reported in O Donnell et al. (2011).
1170 MYCOLOGIA whitish to pale brown when immature, becoming brownish to yellowish or grayish brown at maturity. Stipe 25 110 mm high; 10 50 mm wide; more or less equal, or tapered to apex; often hidden by the hymenophore when young but lengthening dramatically with maturity; often developing shallow longitudinal furrows; fragile; in warm, wet conditions sometimes becoming inflated, especially near the base; white to whitish or watery brownish; occasionally nearly glabrous but more commonly mealy with whitish granules that sometimes darken to brownish or brown. Context whitish to watery tan; 1 2 mm thick in the hollow hymenophore; sometimes chambered or layered near the base; fragile. Sterile inner surface whitish to brownish; mealy. Ascospores 20 25( 29) 3 12 16( 18) mm; elliptical; smooth; contents homogeneous; bright yellowish orange in deposit. Asci 225 325 3 15 22.5 mm; eight-spored; cylindrical; hyaline. Paraphyses 150 275 3 7 15 mm; cylindrical with subclavate, clavate or subcapitate apices; septate; hyaline in KOH (2%). Elements on sterile ridges 100 175 3 10 25 mm; septate; tightly packed in an even layer; brownish to brown in KOH (2%); terminal cell broadly clavate to sub-rectangular with a flattened to broadly rounded apex. Ecology. Occurring under P. trichocarpa in western North American river bottoms; distributed from Oregon to Nevada and northern California; March and April. Specimens examined (SUPPLEMENTARY TABLE I) were collected in California, Nevada and Oregon. Comments. Morchella populiphila corresponds to phylogenetic species Mel-5 in O Donnell et al. (2011). Western North American field guides (e.g. Smith 1975, Arora 1986) regard this species as Morchella semilibera DC, distinct from other morels on the basis of its half-free hymenophore attachment, and identical to the half-free morel of eastern North America, which is phylogenetically distinct and is reported as M. punctipes Peck in the present work. On the basis of the specimens examined, comments in western field guides and the Seattle area collecting experience of one of us (Moore), the association with P. trichocarpa is consistent; the range of M. populiphila may correspond to the range of P. trichocarpa. Morchella populiphila was featured as one of two North American Half-Free Morels in Kuo (2005). Morchella sextelata M. Kuo, sp. nov. FIG. 12 MycoBank MB 563955 Ascomata 40 105 mm alta; capitulum conicum; costae brunneae, interdum nigrescens; hymenium minime brunum usque minime puniceum; biotopium in silvis coniferibus incensis in occidentali America septentrionalis; sporae 18 25 3 10 16 mm. Holotypus: Biotopium in silvis coniferibus incensis; USA, in Montanaense, ad Missoula County; S. Engstrom col.; specimen typicum in Herb. F (07130403) conservatum. Etymology. The epithet reflects the fact that this is the sixth phylogenetic species (Mel-6) in the M. elata Clade enumerated in O Donnell et al. (2011). Ascomata 40 105 mm high. Hymenophore 25 75 mm high; 20 50 mm wide at the widest point; conical to widely conical; pitted and ridged, with 12 20 primary vertical ridges and numerous shorter, secondary vertical ridges and sunken transecting horizontal ridges; attached to stipe with a sinus about 2 4 mm deep and 2 4 mm wide. Ridges glabrous or finely tomentose; pallid when young; becoming dark grayish brown to nearly black with maturity; bluntly flattened when young, sometimes becoming sharpened or eroded with age. Pits primarily vertically elongated; glabrous; dull brownish to yellowish tan, pinkish, or nearly buff. Stipe 20 50 mm high; 10 22 mm wide; more or less equal or sometimes basally subclavate; glabrous or finely mealy with whitish granules; whitish. Context whitish; 1 2 mm thick in the hollow hymenophore; sometimes slightly chambered near the base. Sterile inner surface whitish and pubescent. Ascospores 18 25 3 10 16( 22) mm; elliptical; smooth; contents homogeneous. Asci 200 325 3 5 25 mm; eight-spored; cylindrical; hyaline. Paraphyses 175 300 3 2 15 mm; cylindrical with rounded, subacute, subclavate or subfusoid apices; septate; hyaline in KOH (2%). Elements on sterile ridges 50 180 3 5 25 mm; septate; terminal cell cylindrical with a rounded apex, subfusoid, subcapitate or block-like; with brown to brownish contents in KOH (2%). Ecology. Appearing at 1000 1500 m in lightly to moderately burned conifer forests, including forests dominated by Ps. menziesii and P. ponderosa. Found primarily in years immediately following forest fires but often appearing in dwindling numbers for several seasons thereafter; Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Yukon Territory; April July. Specimens examined (SUPPLEMENTARY TABLE I) were collected in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming and Yukon Territory. Comments. Morchella sextelata corresponds to phylogenetic species Mel-6 in O Donnell et al. (2011). From a strictly morphological perspective the species is virtually identical to several members of the M. elata Clade (M. septimelata, M. brunnea, M. angusticeps, M. septentrionalis), but because it apparently is limited to conifer burn sites in western North America it can be easily separated from all but M. septimelata, from which it is morphologically and ecologically indistinguishable on the basis of currently available data. Elements on sterile ridges in the latter species were primarily subclavate to clavate in the specimens examined, while elements in M. sextelata were